Compound door



G. KING 7 July 22, 1930.

COMPOUND DOOR Original Filed Nov. 25,

1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gra/mm lfl'nj L Frank A. Howard By A1116.

'Jukr22,1930. GLKINGETAP 1,771,380

COMPOUND DOOR Original Filed Nov. 25, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 In 1 61? for:

Gra/mm King FFan/f r4. ffor/a'r'd- G. KING ET AL July 22, 1930.

COMPOUND DOOR 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fm enfors Z] Z v 4!! 5.

Patented July 1939 UNITED sTA'rss PATENT, oFFicE GRAHAM KING, or sou'rn oRAnen, AND FRANK A. HowAnnfor nrnenwoon nnw JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T rnuscon sTnEnooMranY. or nlirnorr, MICHIGAN, conronnrron or MICHIGAN coivrromvn noon Application filed novemb r 25, 1e25, SerialNo. 71,488. Renewed Octciber 24, 192s;

This invention relates to. doors and more particularly. to a class of doorswherein two or more sections are used in cooperation with one another to form a compound door for closing an opening larger than any one of the sections. 3 a

Among the objects of our invention'is to producea compound door suitable for use as a pier door, and for closing any large door opening, such as is found in warehouses,

freight depots and other commercial sheds and buildings.

4 Another object'of this invention is to pro duce a compound door of which the lower or minor sections may be successively raised and opened prior to the opening of the upper or major section and in which the major section may be opened at the termination of the opening movement'of the minor'section's and as a result of the continuing eti'ortfexercised in carrying out the operation of opening the minorsections whereby the entire compound door may beopened by a single continuous and. uninterrupted operation.

Another object resides'in providing mech-. anism which will enable-a cont nuous opening movementof a compound door to be carried out and,also, which=will permit of a partial opening of a minorsection, and of the major section, depending upon the stage to which the opening operation has progressed, without the necessity of relying upon other mechanism for maintaining the particular section or sections of the compound door partially opened or in its or their existing stage of opening operation. 5

Another object is to provide mechanism which will insure the complete closure oi an upper part of anopening by a major section of a compound door prior to the closure of the lower part of an'op'eningby a minor section of thecompound door.

Other and more detailed objects will ,ap-

pear hereinafter in the accompanying specia minor section 11.

acompound door together withmechanism employed for operation of the door.

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of the door show- 7 'ing the mlnor section in a raisedposition, and

the major and minor sections in an inclined pos1t1on.

F ig. 3 is a complete elevation of the com- I present embodiment, securedto the inner side '7 of the door frame 14 {so as to permit the door to be swung inwardly or Within the building in a manner to be hereinafter described. The closed position of section, 10 is illustratedin Figs. 1 and 3, and Figl 4- illustrates how the edge fram'es 15 of this section contact with the sides of the door frame. The sides ofthe'door frame may be made satisfactorilyof structural steel, and an angle-iron 16 may Serve the purpose of preventing outward'movement of the section.

In itsclosed position, the minor section 11 rests upon the floor or door sill and it is maintained in avertical position by means of-a guiding channelil? which is permanently located on the lower part of each edge of the door frame. The edges 18 of the minor sec tion are adapted to slide loosely within the channel and theupper ends 19 of the chan nel may be fiared or enlarged in permiteasy' entrance ofthe edges On the vertical edges of the major section 1 0' are'secured angle-irons 20, ends of which are so disposedas to form channel in coaxial alignment with the channel just I described when the major section is in-its closed position. Figs. 1, 4 and 5 clearly show that section 11 may be raised from its closed position, maintained by channel 17, to a position directly above its closed position and in adorder to jacent relation to the major section 10, the outwardly extending legs of angle-irons guiding and maintaining the minor section close to the major section.

The movements of the door sections may be accomplished by means of ropes or cables passing over sheaves and power'may be applied to control the ropes or cables by any suitable means. For simplicity in descrip tion we have illustrated a hand winchasa conventional indication of a suitable source of power. In the present embodiment the winch 21 is located near to the left edge of the door opening. and a rope. 22, of which one end 23 is secured to the lower edge of the frame of section 11 by a bracket and of which the other end 24 is fastened to'acounterweight 25, encircles the drum of thewinch.

The course of the rope from its end 23 leads upward and over sheave 26 which is mounted on a bracket 27 fastened to angle- -15, upward and over sheave 38 mounted upon a column, and downward to the end 2& secured to the counter-Weight.

Then the winch is operated to allow the counter-weight to descend, the minor section 11 will be raised vertically upward and guided first in channel '17 and then by both channel 17 and the channel formed by an gle-lron 20. As long as edge 18 is in engagement with channel 17, the minor section will be raised and the horizontal component of the pull of rope 22 on sheave 26 will be-ineffectual to cause any change of condition of the maj or section. However, when section 11 has been raised away from" the restraining influence of channel 17 and has passed the end 19, the force exerted byrope'22 upon sheave 26 will be effective to swing the major section on its hinges 13 so as to swing and raise both of the sections to any angle desired, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or to its highest position as limited only by the position of support of sheave 28. The vertical rislng movement of section 11 is immediately,

followed at its termination by the swinging movement of both of the sections and there is no break in the continuity of movement of the rope. If a small opening of the door is desired, the minor section would 'be raised only to the amount desired, the edge of channel 17 efiectually serving to'maintain the major section closed by the interlocking effect of the minor section and the channel.

Where the occasion would require or the condition of the weather necessitate, the two sections may be maintained at any angle desired, for example, as is shown in Fig. 2. At this angle, or at any other angle or position of the sections of a door the sections will remain where positioned because of the compensating force exerted by the counterweight. When used as a pier door, the sections may be left in the position indicated in Fig. 2 so that hoistsand tackles'could be swung within the building with a'minimum amount of opening and the counter-weight and cooperating-mechanism .would maintain the door in a state of equilibrium. The

function of thewinch'is to control the positioning of the sections and of the counter-v weight and to aid'in maintaining the sections in position at any stage of opening or closing operation.

For closing the door from its wide open position, the winch is operated in a direction opposite to that described and the length of rope between sheave 31 and sheave .32 will be shortened asz'the combined effort of the winch, and wei hts of the door andcounterweight operates to draw the door to. As may be understood froma study-of Fig. 2, it is evident that the effect of these forces upon the door will result in swinging the door to 7 a vertical position. The pull upon the rope is continuous and the major section is thereby brought hard up against the door jamb in its closed-position. Vhile thedoor has been thus swung to, the counter-weight has descended to some extent, but as soon as further swinging of the door is prevented by the door j amb, the unwinding efiect produced by the winch mustbe'taken up by a rising of the counter-weight and a corresponding drop of the lower or minor section 11. The major section being in its closed position, the minor section will descend with its vertical edges 18 guided by channel 17. Further operation of the winch will cause the lower 7 section to be lowered until the entire door opening is closed, Fig. l.

The foregoing isa brief description of the mode of operation of a compound door comprising details of the subject matter of our invention, and the mechanism described suflicient to operate and control certain to of doors depending upon size and strcn but we have found it advantageous to pro vide mechanism which will transmit parallel motion to both edges of a large and cumbersome door. Such mechanism illustrated in 3, and partly illustrated in and 2. '7

For the purpose of obtaining "the parallel motion desired and also for transmit-tins; the application of equal operating forces on both sides of the door, a continuation of the same rope could be used, but in the present embodiment another rope 220 is provided. Rope III) 220 is wound around the drum of the same Winch that rope 22 iswound around so that the linear velocity ofthe two ropes are vequal when the winch is being operated. One end 23001" rope 220 is secured to the lower edge of the frame of section 11 at its right end by a'bracket and the other end 240 is secured to a counter-weight 250, similar to counter weight 25, and disposed at the opposite edge of the door opening. The course or the rope from its end 230 is over sheave 260, which is mounted on a'braclzet 2T0 fastened to angle iron jat'tlie right edge of the maj or section,

7 shown), mounted upon bracket extending from a column, undersheave 320, mounted upon bracket 270 fastened to the right vertical edge of frame 15, upward and over sheave 330 mounted upon a column, and

downward to the end 2&6 secured to the.

counter-weight 250, By the use of two counter-weights25 and 250 the compensating weight will be divided equally between them. It is readily understood that the ends 23 and 230, 24 and 240, travel at the same rate when the winch is operated and that each pa-irof ends define a lineparallel to the lower edge of the lower section. The rope referred to in the description may be oi any material suitable for carrying out the purpose for which it is used, and enough turns must he made of each rope around the drum of the winch to overcome slippage, the number of turns is, of course, dependent upon the coeiiicient of friction oi" the mater l used. A sprocket wheel and chain would serve bitv isfactorily. I j Throughout the description, we have referred to a major section as defining the upper section illustrated, and we contemplate that a plurality of lower orminor sections could be controlled by the same set of ropes as herein described since eachminor section could carry a set of guiding channels and sheaves for controlling the rise of the minor section immediately therebelow, the rope being tied to the lower edge of the lowest section. i

VVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to which a minor section is displaceable relative to a major section, means for pivotally supporting said ma or section, means to guide said minor section in itsmovement relative to saidmajor section, and mechanism including a flexible member to control the movement of said minor SBCtlOll relative to said major section, and to swing said major sec tion upon said first named means, said last named mechanism including a pair of=elements with which said flexible member-ed acts forautomatieally completing the closing swinging movement of said major section.-

2. Ina compound door, in combination, a

door comprising a plurality ofsections dis-' placeable relative to each other and relative to a" door opening, means for sliding a lower section onto an upper section and for opening said upper section, said means comprising a flexible member having one end connected to the lower section and passing over a plurality of sheaves, one of which is mounted on saiddoorfand' another of which is fixedly mounted near to the door opening substantially opposite the sheave on the door when the door is closed, whereby the movement of said llexiblemember during a door-closing operation assists said doorto be drawntightly into closed position. a

In a compound door, in combination, a door comprising amajor section and a minor section, said minor section being displaceable relative to said'major section, means for displacing said minor section relative to said major section and for moving said major sectie-n, said means comprising a flexible memher having a portion thereof extending between a sheave on said door and asheave at the door opening, a counterweight connected to the end or said flexible memberbeyond the sheaveon the door, and means for applying force to said flexible member between said two sheaves during a closing movement of said major section for bringing said major section close up againstits door j amb.

4:. A door of the class described comprising, in combination, a hingcdupper section a lower section adapted to slide into overlapping relation with said upper section; power applying means; a counter-weight; and door operating mechanism comprising, flexible means connected with the door and passing over a plurality of sheaves, the path of said flexible means extending from one end thereof, over a sheave on said upper section, a sheave mounted away fromthe door opening and above an open position of the door, to and from said power applying means, a

sheave mounted at the door opening, a sheave. mounted on the door, and to said counterflexiblemeans for raising .said lower section into coincidence with said upper section and for swinging both of said sections; a plurality of sheaves for guiding said flexible means; flexible means passing over one of said sheaves mounted on the doorand another of said sheaves mounted at the door opening, these two sheaves being so related that thepo'rtion of said flexible means intermediate'said two sheaves will be under tension and create a horizontal component orv force tending to urge the door towards the dooropening; and means for controlling the direction ofmovement of said flexible means.

6. Avdoor of the class described comprising, in combination, a hinged'upper section; a lower section adapted to slide into overlapping relation with said upper section; a counter-weight, flexible means for operating said door; and means for controlling the direction of movement of said flexible means; said flexible means being connected with the door and with said counter-weight and under the control. of said controlling means, the length of said flexible means including an inermediate portion extending .between a sheave on the door and a sheave at the door opening, said two sheaves being mounted so as to be opposite eaohother when the door is closed, one of the portions of said flexible means beyond said intermediate portion extending to said counter-weight, and the remaining portion or" said flexible means extending to said controllingmeans and to said door.

7. Apparatus for operating a sectional door having one section slidable relative to another section and both sections adapted to be swung into positions away from a door opening comprising, in combination, flexible means connected with the lower section; means for guiding said flexible means and comprising a sheave on the upper section, a sheave positioned away from the door opening and above an open position of the door, a sheave at the door opening, and a sheave on the door; a force exerting means for maintaining said flexible means taut; and means for controlling the direction ofmovement of said flexible means during door opening and closing operations.

8. Apparatus foroperating a sectional door having a lower section slidable relative to an upper section and both sections adapted to be swung into positions away from a door opening comprising, in combination, flexible means connected with one of the sections; means for controlling theoirection of movement 01" said flexible means; a counterweight; means for guiding said flexible means including a sheave on the upper sec-.

tion and a sheave at the door opening sub stantially opposite the sheave on the upper section when the door is closed whereby a portion of said flexible means always extends from the door opening to the door in any position of the door and continually exerts a closing effect upon said door.

9. In combination, adoor, operating mechanism for said door comprising, a flexible member with one end thereof having connection wit-h said door, guiding means for training said flexible member including a guiding element on said doorwhereby a portion of said flexible member is caused to extend from said guiding element in a direction transverse to the plane of the doorand to a positionadjacent the door opening of said door, neans for exertinga force upon said-flexible member, and power applying means for controlling the opening and closing operations of said door by controlling the movement of the end of the flexible member having connection with said door.

10. In combination, a door, operating mechanism for said doorcomprising, a flexible member having one end associated with said door in such a manner as to be guided in a direction resulting from two combined movements transverse to each other, means for controlling the operation of said door through movement of said end of said flexible member resulting from said two combined .iovements, means for training said flexible member so as to cause it to travel desired paths, said means including a guiding element carried by saiddoor from which a por tion of said flexible member extends to a position adjacent the door opening of said door, means for exerting a force upon said flexible member whereby the tension created in the portion of said flexible means passing over said guiding element tends to urge the door towards the door opening.

. 11. In combination, a door, operating mechanism for said door comprising, a flexible member having one end associated with said door and having a combined vertical and lateral movement during a door closing operation, means for training the course of said flexible member during movement of the door, said means being so disposed as to cause a portion of said flexible member to extend from said door to a position adjacent the door opening of said do 1, the direction of said portion of the flexible member being such as to afford exertion of horizontal component of force along its length, a force exerting means associated with said flexible member so' as to exert tension upon said portion thereof, and means for controlling the di reotion of movement of said end of said flexible member associated with the door in one direction during a door opening operation and in a substantially opposite direction during a door closing operation (hiring which the door may be affected by the force transmitted by said force exerting means tending to urge the door against its door jamb.

12. The combination with telescoping door "membershaving a pivotal mounting on which they can be swung, ofmeans connected to the door members for effecting the telescopingaction of the members and causing their positive pivotal movements in opposite directions to carry them to and from a fully open position and against wind resistance on the latter members having apivotal mounting on which they can be swung,'of means connected to the door members for effecting the telescoping action of the members and causing their posi-' tive pivotal movements in opposite directions to carry them to and from a fully open position and against wind resistance on the latter movement while maintaining the sections in telescoped relation. 7

14. The. combination with a swinging door section of a sliding door section that telescopes the same, and operating mechanism for the door sections including means for causing the sliding the swinging door section, and devices on opposite sides of the swinging door section for positively swinging it in both directions.

15. The combination with a swinging doorsection, of a sliding door section that telescopes the same, andoperating mechanism for the door sections including means for causing the sliding door sectionto telescope the swinging door section, and devices on opposite sides of the swinging door section and connected to its free end portion for positively swinging it in both directions.

16. The combination with an upper swing ing door section hinged at its upper end, of a lower door section that is slidable to and from a telescoped position on the upper section, a winch for sliding the lower door section and swinging the upper door section, and cables wrapped oppositely around the winch and extending to the upper door section from op posite directions to positively swing it in opposite directions, one of said cables being also connected to the lower door section to slide it.

17 The combination with door members capable of telescoping movements and having a pivotal mounting on which they can be swung, of reversely movable actuating mechanism, and means connected to the members and operated by the actuating mechanism to eifect their telescoping movements and their positive pivotal movements in opposite directions to carry them to and from a fully open position and against resistance during the latter movement. 7 a

18. The combination with door members capable of telescoping movements and having a pivotal mounting on which they can be swung, of reversely movable actuating mechanism, a means operated by the actuating mechanism when moved in one direction and connected to one of the members for effecting the telescoping movements of the members and causing them to swing in one direction while telescoped, and a means also operated by the actuating means when moved in an opposite direction and connectedto one of the members for posltively swinging said members inan opposite direction.

In testimony whereof wehereto aflix our signatures.

GRAHAM KING. FRANK A. HOWARD.

door section to telescope 

